Combination bed-sheet, tent, and sleeping-bag.



P. W. BURCH COMBINATION BED SHEET, TENT, AND SLEEPING BAG.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 20, 1911.

Patented Dec.31,1912.

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FREDERICK W. BURCH, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

COMBINATION BED-SHEET, TENT, AND SLEEPING-BAG.

Application filed December 20, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK IV. BURCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combination Bed- Sheets, Tents, and Sleeping-Bags, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention consists in an improved single-piece tent, bedsheet or sleeping bag which may be readily converted from one of these articles to another as may be desired.

The object of my invention is to provide a single, approximately rectangular, sheet or blank, equipped with the necessary rings, eyelets and fastenings, which shall, for a given Weight, be capable of forming a tent of maximum size and which shall have no parts or portions not capable of performing their proper function when the sheet or blank is so folded as to be used as a sleeping-bag or bed-sheet, as the case may be.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will later appear in the specification and be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1, is a plan view of the sheet or blank employed in my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective of the device when used as a tent; and Fig. ,3 is a perspective of the same device when used as a sleepingbag.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated the sheet or blank spread out. In the simplest embodiment of my invention the sheet would be a single rectangular piece of canvas or other suitable material of dimensions A, B, in which A equals 2 I have indicated it as composed of triangular sections a, b, c, d, e, f, and g, though these divisions may be purely imaginary or may be marked off by stitching, as indicated in Fig. 1. I prefer in fact to make the divisions by stitching for reasons which will later appear. I also prefer to add, either as an integral part of the sheet or as a separate element attached by sewing, a narrow strip or flap it along one half of one of the longer sides of the rectangle in position to serve as a closure for the device when used as a tent. At the middle of one of the longer sides of the rectangle (at the apices of the triangle a, 6, (Z, 6, 9,) I place a large ring 5 which may be attached in any manner but which I have shown as affixed to a strap 6 sewed to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

Serial No. 666,864..

sheet by a reinforcing element 7. Large eyelets 8 are located midway of the shorter sides of the sheet and similar eyelets 9 are located at the base angles of the triangle (1- which points are distant from the adjacent corners of the sheet a distance equal to onehalf the length of the shortest sides of the sheet. Snaps 10 are attached to the edge of the flap h and corresponding rings 11 are attached, as shown, adjacent the edge of the longer leg of the triangle a and at a distance from the edge equal to the width of the flap 71.. If the flap It be dispensed with the snaps 10 will then be placed on the edge of triangle 9 and the rings 11 on the edge of triangle (1. Snaps 12 and rings 13 are located as shown on the edge of the sheet opposite to that occupied by the ring 5 in position to cooperate as will be hereinafter explained. The relative arrangement of snaps and rings is material though it will be clear that rings could be substituted for snaps and snaps for rings if the change be made throughout.

In case the sheet is to be used as a tent (as shown in Fig. 2) it is suspended by a rope 15 tied to ring 5 and passed over any suitable means of support, as, for instance, the limb of a tree X. Stakes 16 are driven through loops of rope tied in rings 8 and 9, securing the corners to the ground, and a pyramidal tent having a rectangular base is thus formed, the triangular portions 0, f being folded underneath and within the tent. The snaps 10 are in position to engage the rings 11 to close the front of the tent and the element It forms'a flap to more thoroughly close the opening. If bedding be placed over the portions 0, f the ends of the tent are closed against wind or insects. I have shown rope loops as interposed between the rings 8, 9 and the stakes 16 but I make the rings 8, 9 of such size that, if iron stakes be used, they can be driven through the rings, thus dispensing with the use of the rope loops.

As previously stated, I prefer to tuck the sheet on the lines between the triangles as indicated and this is for the reason that when the device is used as a tent, if it be not so stitched, the corners between the sides will be rounded and not square, thus detracting from the appearance of the tent. It will be obvious, however, that the utility of the device will be the same whether stitched or not.

If the sheet is to be used for what is known to stockmen as a bed sheet it is merely folded on its shorter median and snaps 10 engaged with rings 11 and snaps 12 with rings 18. If a sleeping-bag is desired the sheet is folded on its shorter median and then in the opposite direction from each side half way toward the middle. The snaps 10 will then be in position to engage rings 13 and the device will have the form shown in Fig. 3.

While specific dimensions do not in any sense form a part of the essence of my invention I may state that I prefer to make my sheet seven feet by fourteen feet (the customary size of bed-sheet used by stock men) and that this forms a tent having a floor area of seven feet by a trifle less than five feet and having a height of a little more than six and one-half feet at the apex.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A combined tent, sheet and sleeping bag, consisting of a rectangular sheet of flexible material, of proportions substantially as described, and having a ring at the center of the side which forms the top of the tent, means for forming ground connect-ions at the middle points of the end edges, and like ground connections on the side which forms the bottom of the tent, at points distant from the corners equal to one half the extent of the ends of the sheet, and detachable means for connecting the opposite sides.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FREDERICK W'. BURCH.

WVitnesses:

W. W. BOUGHTON, A. B. SHAW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

